Cover Story
 Not since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had European and trans-Atlantic aviation witnessed so much disruption, triggered this time by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland, which caused the progressive shutdown of airspace across the continent. [Download PDF 6 pages. 471K]
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Helicopter Safety
 Low clouds and low visibility permeated an area in the Gulf of Mexico when a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger crashed en route to an offshore drilling platform, killing the pilot and all four passengers. [Download PDF 4 pages. 270K]
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Casual Factors
 An Airbus A320-232 was undergoing a series of functional checks required by a lease agreement when it stalled and descended into the Mediterranean Sea near Perpignan, France, the afternoon of Nov. 27, 2008. Among the factors that contributed to the accident was the flight crew’s lack of training and experience in performing functional check flights, the report said. [Download PDF 6 pages. 334K]
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Runway Safety
 On the evening of March 26, 2006, an Airbus A321 operated by My Travel Scandinavia was involved in a serious landing incident at Sandefjord Airport Torp in southern Norway. Despite wet snow on the runway, the A321 crew expected normal winter landing conditions.
[Download PDF 3 pages. 186K]
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Flight Ops
 As is often the case with a tragic event, the Midway accident drove regulators to search for deficiencies within their own policies and guidance. A new tool for assessing and reporting runway condition informally called the “Runway Condition Matrix.” [Download PDF 4 pages. 193K]
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Threat Analysis
 The Federal Aviation Administration has responsibility for the safety of operations involving code-sharing, but requires that only non-U.S. air carriers be audited by the U.S. marketing carrier selling tickets for the code-sharing flights, officials said. [Download PDF 3 pages. 250K]
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SEminar IASS
 Concerted action is needed to address vulnerabilities in average pilots’ capabilities to safely monitor their flight path, conduct a missed approach, avoid stalls and maintain control of highly automated commercial jets, aviation specialists say. Several of 33 speakers at the Flight Safety Foundation International Air Safety Seminar, Nov. 2–5 in Milan, Italy, spoke with uncharacteristic urgency about these re-emerging risks.
[Download PDF 6 pages. 545K]
Expanded Version (Text only)
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Cabin Safety
 The U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch has recommended design reviews and modifications of emergency exits on public transport aircraft following an emergency landing in which passengers in an Embraer 195 became confused about how to use an overwing exit.
[Download PDF 4 pages. 309K]
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Executive’s Message
So what does this suggest for 2011? The predicted shift of the center of aviation activity toward the developing economies is happening. [Download PDF 1 page. 86K]
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Editorial Page
We need to pay attention to volcanoes. Clearly, we can’t stop volcanoes from erupting. We can, however, take steps to minimize the threats such events present to aviation. [Download PDF 1 page. 69K]
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Air Mail
Although there are multiple procedures in effect to ensure entry of valid weights, there is always the chance for human error — for example, taking wrong weights by accident, like in this case; mistyping the weights, like in Brisbane; or maybe the loaders providing a wrong measurement.
[Download PDF 1 page. 155K]
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Safety Calendar
A listing of aviation safety-related conferences, seminars and meetings. [Download PDF 1 page. 69K]
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In Brief
Airbus should alert A320-series operators of the possibility that an electrical problem could result in uncommanded operation of the rudder trim, the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch says. [Download PDF 3 pages. 454K]
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Foundation Focus
Some recent accidents and incidents have highlighted the higher risk associated with conducting functional check flights. These flights are vital to insuring safe, reliable and airworthy aircraft. This symposium will provide a forum to discuss challenges and best practices related to functional check flights.
[Download PDF 2 pages. 231K]
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Data Link
The European aviation safety record was marred in 2009 by the loss on June 1 of an Airbus A330 over the Atlantic, resulting in 228 fatalities.
[Download PDF 3 pages.
416K]
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Info Scan
Even without a crash, body parts can be found in aircraft these days. Thanks to the remarkable transplantation feats of modern surgery, donated organs are in demand, and speed is essential in delivering them to the sites where they will be used. That often means aircraft transportation.
[Download PDF 4 pages. 102K]
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On Record
The following information provides an awareness of problems in the hope that they can be avoided in the future. The information is based on final reports by official investigative authorities on aircraft accidents and incidents. [Download PDF 8 pages. 280K]
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